VIDEO: Many Hands can make light work of Sheffield club’s bid for £100k grant

Danny Hall

Bob Hill can still remember the day he helped found Handsworth Boys’ first team back in 1986 - and a lot has certainly changed since then.

Margaret Thatcher was still the Prime Minster of the United Kingdom, Maradona had single-handedly helped Argentina to that year’s World Cup - literally - and the foundations for the modern-day Handsworth Junior Sporting Club were put in place.

Now, the club has over 25 teams, their own home at Olivers Mount - and, with your help, they can land a £100,000 grant from Budweiser to create a project in the heart of Handsworth which will benefit the wider community.

The Ambers have already received £50,000 from the FA Cup sponsors, as part of their Club Futures scheme.

VIDEO: Press the play button above to watch Handsworth’s video.

Now, they are going head-to-head with seven other clubs in the UK for the ‘super grant’, with each club tasked to produce a two-minute video. The club with the most votes on Budweiser’s Facebook page, will walk away with the £100,000.

“The £50,000 grant will help us create our vision of providing the best possible football experience for our own players and families and also our opposition,” Hill, who founded the U10s side with the late Mick Wragg, said.

“The plans we have in place for the grandstand are now very much a reality thanks to the first grant, and I know the community will reap the benefits once it’s complete.

“We can’t even begin to imagine what £100,000 would help us do for the community.”

Club insiders have told Grass Roots that the grant will be used to create a new sports project in the heart of Handsworth.

“It will provide a venue for community groups, and we are holding meetings with Sheffield City Council and the ‘Friends of Handsworth’ Group to move these projects forward,” a club spokesperson said.

“Our success at Oliver’s Mount as proved we are interested in Handsworth as an area, and we now feel ready to take on an even bigger project.”

Wragg passed away in 1990 aged just 36, and eight years later Handsworth took over Olivers Mount.

Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Aaron Jameson, currently on loan at Bradford City, is a former player at Handsworth, while the sister of Sheffield United’s Harry Maguire plays for one of the women’s sides.

“I urge you all to vote for Handsworth in this Budweiser competition... they’re a real friendly club, and a good club within the community,” Maguire said.

Other notable former players include former Rotherham captain Ryan Cresswell, and Chelsea academy star Alex Kiwomya.

Local MP Clive Betts added: “The £50,000 grant will help continue Handsworth’s excellent work in the community and I wish them every success in their bid for the additional £100,000.”